The Richmond Arms To Close After 30 Years

For anyone familiar with the London gay scene, the news that The Richmond Arms will be closing after 30 years is definitely going to be tinged with sadness.

The official closure date for the gay bar will be April 23rd, so if you want to get one last visit in, nows the time. According to information from the staff, TCG, who own the bar went into administration in October last year and sadly could not find a new buyer.

The news of the closure stings even more than it usually would, as it follows pretty closely on the heels of numerous other gay bars in London. These include The Black Cap, a historic drag venue in Camden, the George & the Dragon, and the club Barcode, among others. The number of pubs and clubs for LGBT people is sadly dwindling in the capital.

The Richmond Arms made this sad announcement via a post on their official Facebook.

“To all our dearest customers,

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that we will be closing ours doors for good on Saturday 23rd of April 2016. As some of you will know since our owners TCG went into administration in October last year they have been looking to find a new owner for us. Unfortunately this has not happened due to the landlord not willing to extent the lease, so the Richmond Arms will close and not re open in any form.

This place is so close to many of us, we have laughed and cried here together for over 30 years. We will all miss this wonderful place in a different way. To thank you all for being loyal customers over the years would be wrong as that is not what you were to us. You are our family here and you are the reason this pub is as great as it is. we have all put our hearts and souls into here on more than one occasion and made is somewhere different and safe to come that will never be forgotten.

Many memories and relationships, good ideas bad ideas have started here we have seen many wonderful moments in life and lots of the fuck ups but we have always been here for each other to support and care for each other and I hope we will continue after we have lost our dear friend.

I would personally like to thank you all for letting me be a part of this special place and wish everyone the best for the future.